Muslim Vote-supported candidates consider preferencing Liberals in bid to unseat Labor ministers
Independent candidates supported by The Muslim Vote movement could preference the Liberals in bit to oust Labor Ministers.
NSW
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Candidates supported by The Muslim Vote movement haven’t ruled out preferencing the Liberals in a bid to oust Labor from safe seats in Sydney’s west at the federal election.
Ahmed Ouf and Dr Ziad Basyouny, who are running to topple senior Albanese government ministers Jason Clare and Tony Burke, both suggested they could preference Labor last on their how to vote cards – meaning votes for the independents could flow to the Liberals.
Labor figures have noted Cumberland councillor Ouf – who is hoping to topple Mr Clare in Blaxland – directed preferences to the Liberals in September’s council election.
The vote for Labor in that area collapsed from 65 per cent to 22 per cent, with fears the independent Muslim candidates will be able to tap into community anger over the government’s stance on the Gaza war in a bid to topple the incumbent MPs.
“While we have not finalised preferences, it should come as no surprise if Labor is placed last on my ticket. Labor has failed us and their time in Blaxland has come to an end,” Mr Ouf said in a statement to The Daily Telegraph.
Dr Basyouny, who is running against Mr Burke in Watson, also didn’t rule out preferencing the Liberals above Labor in the federal election.
“We’re still in discussions and nothing is off the table yet,” Dr Basyouny’s campaign manager, Dr Mohamad Assoum, told The Daily Telegraph.
“We’re running against Labor with the intention of winning the seat and we hope by the next federal election Watson will be independent.”
Multiple Labor sources said the entrance of the independents, and the grassroots support from The Muslim Vote movement, had put the party on notice in Sydney’s west.
“I definitely think they are a force,” one Labor MP said.
Another Labor source said the party was used to fighting “on multiple fronts” – citing years of the Greens trying to siphon their votes.
The Liberal Party is yet to make a decision on preference flows, with that decision to be made closer to the election, although it’s understood the party is unlikely to preference pro-Palestine activists.
The Muslim Vote movement isn’t a political party, but since its formation earlier this year has pledged to mobilise Muslim voters angry over Australia’s reaction to the war in Gaza.
The movement has endorsed Dr Basyouny and welcomed the candidacy of Mr Ouf.
The group intends on gathering volunteers to help with doorknocking, letterbox dropping of campaign material, and election day handing out.
According to their website, 31.7 per cent of Blaxland’s voters are Muslim, compared to 25.1 per cent in Watson.
“The community does not want Trump-style politics in Peter Dutton but, at the same time, the Australian Labor Party and those who seek power have taken the community for granted,” their website states.
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